I have to think that you''re not doing dip-pole gybes on a 27'' boat. Besides providing an opportunity to garrot the mastman while gybing, moving the downhaul to the base of the mast makes it so there''s no way to pull the sail forward in light (or no) air. You''d have to stand up at the mast and push it. This creates crew/weight movement in just the conditions when you''d like as little shifting as possible. Easing the sheet and tightening the downhaul can probably be done without anyone having to change position much.